And still that fearful mother prayed, "O yet delay, delay till morning, For weak the hand that guides our bark, Though brave his heart, all danger scorning." Little did stern Glenvarloch heed: "The safety of my fortress tower Depends on tidings he must bring From Fairlee bank, within the hour. "Seest thou, across the sullen wave, A blood-red banner, wildly streaming? That flag a message brings to me Of which my foes are little dreaming. The boy must put his boat across (Gold shall repay his hour of danger), And bring me back, with care and speed, Three letters from the light-browed stranger." The orphan boy leaped lightly in; Bold was his eye and brow of beauty, And bright his smile as thus he spoke: "I do but pay a vassal's duty; Fear not for me, O mother dear; See how the boat the tide is spurning, The storm will cease, the sky will clear, And thou wilt watch me safe returning." His bark shot on,-now up, now down, Now like a white-winged sea-bird rested; Smote on the ear that woman's wailing, As long she watched, with streaming eyes, That fragile bark's uncertain sailing. He reached the shore,-the letters claimed; Was seen by her,—that mourning mother; And once she heard his shouting voice, That voice the waves were soon to smother. Wild burst the wind, wide flapped the sail, And caverns in the deep lake hollowed. But where was he who used to play On sunny days, by Mona's fountain? His cold corpse floated to the shore Where knelt his lone and shrieking mother; And bitterly she wept for him, The widow's son, who had no brother! Glenvarloch gazed, and on his brow Remorse with pain and grief seemed blending; A purse of gold he flung beside That mother, o'er her dead child bending. O wildly laughed that woman then, "Glenvarloch! would ye dare to measure The holy life that God has given "Ye spurned my prayer, for we were poor; But know, proud man, that God hath power To smite the king on Scotland's throne, The chieftain in his fortress tower. We've done the last of chieftain's bidding, "Will gold bring back his cheerful voice Or make my heart less lone to-morrow? Beneath the waves of Mona's water." Old years rolled on, and new ones came,- Sinks languid down, and withers daily, Her step fell on the old oak floor As noiseless as the snow-shower's drifting; And from her sweet and serious eyes They seldom saw the dark lid lifting. Bring aid! bring aid!" the father cries; Bring aid!" each vassal's voice is crying; "The fair-haired beauty of the isles, Her pulse is faint,-her life is flying!" He called in vain; her dim eyes turned And met his own with parting sorrow, For well she knew, that fading girl, That he must weep and wail the morrow. Her faint breath ceased; the father bent And gazed upon his fair-haired daughter. What thought he on? The widow's son, And the stormy night by Mona's water. ANONYMOUS, THE PAUPER GIRL. "Only a pauper," the neighbors said, As they coaxed away from death's low bed A weeping child, her young heart sore, Because "dear mamma" would speak no more. They gave her a home such as paupers have, Or teach her to win in life's great battle. “Oh, where can I go?" Long years had flown, She might have been fair, but care and want The rich, the poor, they heeded not The friendless girl-her hard, hard lot; One open door-they wanted her there The place seemed cheerful, its inmates fair; The music, the birds, the flowers, the light All lured her on with their promise bright. The tempter was nigh with his pictures fair Was tempted and lost, that homeless girl. O child of wealth, if ye knew the power You would pity the paupers, invite them in, Nor fear of soiling your dainty hands, Nor fear of breaking society's bands, Nay, yours is the sin, if sin there be- You should have assisted such as she; Have paused in your round of fashion and whirl GEORGENE TRAVER. AFTER THE BATTLE. The drums are all muffled, the bugles are still; There's a voice in the wind like a spirit's low cry; The brave heads late lifted are solemnly bowed, The groans of the death-stricken drowning, There is no mocking blazon, as clay sinks to clay; |